Mercedes-Benz offers AMG customers a chance to drive Mt Panorama
Sometimes the perks of vehicle ownership extend beyond the car itself.
During the Festival of AMG event at the 2015 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix this week, Mercedes-Benz announced the success of its recent AMG customer experience days had inspired it to return to Mount Panorama in Bathurst to promote the launch of the new C63 S AMG later this year.
This is the first time the prestige brand has run an event at the world famous road-circuit since the launch of the previous generation C63 in 2008.
Speaking to CarAdvice at the Grand Prix event, chief AMG Driving Academy instructor Peter Hackett said Mercedes was thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to its customers.
The event will be offered to registered AMG owners and AMG Club members on a first-come, first-served basis. The event will give Mercedes-AMG owners a chance to tackle the famous road circuit in a range of AMG performance vehicles — including the star of the show, the new 375kW/700 Nm C63 S AMG.
Mercedes-Benz has previously offered customer driving opportunities at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, and at the Albert Park Formula 1 Circuit in the lead up to the Australian F1 GP.
This year is the 20th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz AMG models in Australia, where the sporting sub-brand enjoys the most sales per capita of any market in the world.
2014 was a record sales year for AMG, where the performance models accounted for over 10 per cent of total sales, and came within 50 units of rival German manufacturer Porsche's total sales.
AMG ownership starts from the $75,700 A45 AMG and heads north to the $499,000 S65 AMG Coupe.